Dehydration or hypoglycemia may be the cause of the patient’s dizziness and disorientation as she has not been eating regularly. Hypoglycemia is particularly common in individuals with Type I diabetes (McCrimmon & Sherwin, 2010), which the patient has. To treat this, the patient will receive an intravenous administration of dextrose. For the patient’s wound, the focus will be on keeping pressure off the area, applying medication and dressing it, and ensuring her blood glucose and other health issues are managed. Following this treatment, the patient will be transferred to a larger network facility, as sending her home is not an option. She requires constant care due to her chronic condition and age. The patient’s mobility is also compromised due to her foot wound, further limiting her ability to care for herself at home. She will also require the intervention of a social worker to arrange for her long-term care, either at home or in a nursing facility.
Evaluation Plan
The following evaluation plan for the priority hypothesis will detail how the outcomes of the proposed treatment plan shall be monitored and assessed to gauge the hypothesis’s effectiveness. The results of the evaluation plan will be used for the improvement of the treatment plan and for future decision making (CDC, 2012). The evaluation plan is focused on monitoring the patient’s progress towards the achievement of desired outcomes within a set period. The initial short-term outcomes include reducing her blood pressure to below 140/90, increasing her oxygen saturation to above 90, and reducing her temperature down to the normal range. These should be achieved within the first three hours following her admission and shall be monitored regularly during her stay in the ER. Other outcomes that should be achieved within 12 hours of her admission include treating and dressing her wound, treating her hypoglycemia, improving her breathing, and bringing her glucose levels to a normal range.
Once her physical complications are stabilized and treated, the priority of the evaluation plan shall shift to her psychosocial needs. The patient should regain her orientation within 24 hours of being in the ER. This will be determined by asking her once more if she understands why she is in the ER, as well as asking some personal questions to assess her sentience. The patient’s next of kin should be traced and contacted so as to arrange her transfer to a larger network facility within 48 hours. Lastly, a social worker shall be briefed on the patient’s condition and needs so as to take over the care plan. This evaluation plan is realistic, and the outcomes of the treatment plan are focused on improved patient outcomes (Walsh et al., 2007). Conclusions drawn from this evaluation plan shall determine if the care plan should be continued or terminated. The care plan shall be revised to develop a more effective approach based on the patient’s needs if the outcomes are not achieved within the specified periods.